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Bring These to Your Initial Consultation with Your Car Accident Lawyer
So you’ve made the decision to work with an experienced auto accident attorney following your car crash – good idea! But now the appointment date is approaching and you’re just not sure what information to bring that will best illustrate your injuries and losses. You also want to show the lawyer you have good reason to believe another driver caused your accident and should be held accountable. What should you prepare in advance of your appointment?
We have put together this basic primer on what to bring to your first meeting with your attorney, so you can help him hit the ground running when it comes to pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Show your car accident lawyer all relevant medical records
Any injury claim must be corroborated by medical professionals. Following an auto accident, these will likely include the following:
- Ambulance/EMT report
- Emergency room report
- Hospital stay report (if relevant)
- Follow-up report(s) from your personal care physician
- Any additional medical professional reports (e.g., chiropractic care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or visiting nurse)
- Any records of relevant prior medical conditions that might have been exacerbated by this accident (e.g., chronic back issues, injuries from previous accidents, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other ongoing physical or mental health concerns)
The reports should include names, addresses, and contact information for the professionals and institutions involved in your post-crash care. They should also include dates of admission, start and end of treatment, or anticipated length of treatment if not yet begun. Diagnostic information, treatment rendered and/or recommended, and lists of medications prescribed should also be provided.
Bring your financial information
Since this is your first meeting, you might not have all of the following just yet. However, make sure you bring whatever is available, and provide additional invoices and insurance copies when they do come in:
- Emergency medical transportation bill
- Bills from emergency room and hospital
- Invoices from personal care physician, therapists, and other medical care professionals
- Most recent paperwork explaining what your insurance provider will and won’t cover
- Most recent paperwork regarding your automobile insurance coverage
- Documentation provided by your employer showing dates and lost income due to your accident
Provide lawyer with official reports of your car crash
You need to back up your version of events with facts. Your best source for these are copies of all independent reports provided by officials but should also include evidence you were able to gather yourself. These include:
- Police report from the scene of the accident
- Any follow-up police or forensic reports (if provided)
- Photos taken at the scene of the cars involved (including their positions after the crash) and/or your injuries
- Reports from eyewitnesses, including from passengers in your or the other vehicle(s) involved
Meet with an auto accident attorney in Los Angeles today
Los Angeles car accident lawyer Scott J. Corwin offers free, initial consultations to people injured in automobile accidents. If you were hurt in a crash, don’t wait. Contact Scott as soon as you’re able at (310) 683-2300.